Buswell to be reinstated as WA treasurer

Former West Australian treasurer
Troy Buswell
will be reinstated to his old job and emerging MP Liza Harvey is set to take control of the important housing portfolio in a state government reshuffle.

Sources said the Liberal government would announce the changes soon, in preparation for the state election in March.

A spokesperson for Premier
Colin Barnett
declined to comment.

A person with knowledge of the changes said Mr Buswell would serve the business community well.

“He’s one of the most effective ministers at cutting through bureaucracy," the person said.

He’s also one of the most controversial.

Mr Buswell’s anticipated elevation to control the purse strings of the country’s best performing economy comes after he once sniffed the chair of a female Liberal staffer, snapped the bra of a Labor staffer and left his wife to pursue a relationship with a Greens MP turned independent.

The incidents–issues arising from them led to Mr Buswell, 46, losing the treasury portfolio in 2010 – severely interrupted an otherwise successful political career.

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The impending changes were sparked by the sudden departure of one of Mr Barnett’s best performing ministers, Treasurer and Attorney General
Christian Porter
, who is seeking a career in federal politics.

Polling showed Mr Barnett’s Liberals were almost certain to retain office for a second term, before a change in state Labor leadership gave the opposition a much-needed boost.

It is not yet known how voters will receive Mr Porter’s exit and the expected elevation of Mr Buswell.

Political analyst Harry Phillips said the changes could hurt the governing Liberals.

“Labor at this point in time hasn’t had those apparent problems," Mr Phillips said.

He said Labor leader
Mark McGowan
still had a problem distancing himself from the policies of federal Labor, such as the mining tax, which were unpopular in WA.

The Liberals were only able to form government after the tight 2008 election by securing support from the Nationals. A booming economy underpinned by rising mining royalty payments has helped the state government hand down budget surpluses since being elected.

Mr Buswell will oversee a state economy that is expected to expand by a robust 4.75 per cent in 2012-13, according to budget forecasts.

The reshuffle will include several other changes, with upper house MP Michael Mischin, the parliamentary secretary to the Attorney-General, tipped to be the state’s next attorney- general.

Ms Harvey is set to take on the housing portfolio, which is now handled by Mr Buswell.

WA is facing some of the tightest rental conditions in the country, sparking fears of shortages similar to those experienced in the lead-up to the financial crisis.

Mines Minister
Norman Moore
and the independent Education Minister
Liz Constable
have announced they will retire at the next election, leaving room for several new faces on the Liberal’s frontbench.